‘Mark Twain’ to entertain for Bryan Library benefit

March 13, 2010 11:33:00 PM

Jan Swoope - jswoope@cdispatch.com

In a rare public appearance in the Golden Triangle, author, lecturer and humorist Mark Twain -- as interpreted by Robert Valentine -- will entertain an audience Thursday, March 18, at the Ritz Theater and Conference Center in West Point, to benefit that city''s Bryan Public Library.

Valentine, a senior lecturer at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., has been channeling Twain publicly since 1973 and is considered one of the foremost personifications of the iconic creator of classics such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn."

The evening at the Ritz, which includes dinner, will support the library, which has experienced difficult funding cuts this year. In addition to its importance as a source of books and research material for a diverse cross-section of the population, Bryan Library also maintains a local history room and computers widely-used by the public.

"Some of our patrons use the computers to complete job training and online coursework," said library director Mary Helen Waggoner. "Charitable contributions will help the library meet its budget needs and serve the public."

Tickets

Cost of tickets for the March 18 benefit are $100 per person, available at the library located at 338 Commerce St. in West Point. Of that amount, $70 is a tax-deductible charitable contribution.

A cash bar reception begins at 6 p.m, with dinner at 6:30 p.m. "Mark Twain: A Reminiscence" will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Bryan Public Library at 662-494-4872.